Alamdar Hamdani U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A Laredo man, Luis Andres Serna, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for the sexual exploitation of a pregnant minor and involvement in drug trafficking and alien smuggling conspiracies. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the sentencing.
Serna, 30, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation on September 23, 2024, and to human transportation and drug conspiracies on June 23, 2023. He is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña issued the sentence after hearing evidence that the minor victim had given birth to a child she claimed was fathered by Serna—a claim he disputed.
“The defendant’s conduct in this case was absolutely reprehensible," stated Ganjei. "From alien smuggling, to drug trafficking, to sexual exploitation of a minor, the defendant took every opportunity to harm his community."
Craig Larrabee from ICE-HSI San Antonio commented on the case: “Today’s sentencing should serve as a deterrent... Through our dedicated efforts and strong partnerships with law enforcement, we will continue to hold perpetrators accountable.”
The investigation began when law enforcement encountered Serna transporting an illegal alien in April 2022. Authorities later found numerous illegal aliens and over a ton of marijuana linked to him.
While detained for these charges, Serna contacted the pregnant minor using a video system provided by the facility. The investigation revealed that he engaged in inappropriate communications with her during his detention.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation with support from various agencies including the U.S. Marshals Service and Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Homero Ramirez prosecuted alongside former Special AUSA Terence A. Check Jr., as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006.
Serna remains in custody awaiting transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility.
